Page 36 of All Wrapped Up
‘It won’t and I’m not working tomorrow either, so why don’t we go to town together? We could grab a bite to eat ahead of the meeting.’
‘That’s a lovely suggestion,’ I said, puffing out my cheeks, ‘but I’m not sure I’ll be up to eating anything.’
‘Of course you will,’ he nudged back, with a laugh. ‘Now tell me, what was the technical hitch that messed things up last week?’
Ash’s eyes grew wider and wider as I told him about theunderhanded tactic Jason had employed in order to undermine the festival and why.
‘What a horrible thing to do,’ he stated, when I’d given him all of the details. ‘And what a ridiculous attitude to have about the town. I had no idea he felt that way.’
‘I agree.’ I nodded. ‘On both counts.’
‘I feel very lucky to live near somewhere as lovely as Wynbridge.’
‘Me too.’
‘There aren’t many places with the same depth of heart and soul that this place has.’
‘That’s pretty much what Lizzie said,’ I happily sighed.
Now that I had spent a year and a half in the Fens, gently processing my grief, while vigorously renovating Rowan Cottage, and was ready to pull myself further out of my shell, I knew I was in the perfect place to nurture my progress and safely spread my wings.
‘We’re both very lucky,’ said Ash.
When I looked up, I found he was looking at me intently and I felt my tummy take another tumble, but it was a rather different feeling to the one I’d experienced when thinking about the festival. I don’t know what I would have said next, if anything, but Ash’s gaze then moved to take in the view over my shoulder and the moment passed. I blinked it away, feeling… well, I wasn’t sure how I felt, but my tummy was still a bit all over the place.
‘Clem,’ he then said, in a low voice. ‘Turn around very slowly and look out of the window and whatever you do, don’t disturb Pixie.’
The dog had curled up and fallen asleep while we werechatting and I did as instructed, holding back the gasp that desperately wanted to escape when I saw why Ash had requested I remain calm and quiet.
‘I don’t believe it,’ I whispered as I watched a huge hare, which was sitting on the path right outside the bifold windows, washing its face and ears. ‘Look at that.’
‘I am.’
‘It’shuge.’ The hare didn’t seem at all fazed by the fact that two sets of human eyes were tracking its progress as it set off along the path, but then perhaps it didn’t know they were. ‘Or at least, I think it’s huge. Are they all that big? I’ve only ever seen them running across the fields and boxing at a distance so have nothing to compare this close up view to.’
‘That’s about average.’ Ash nodded. ‘They are pretty big.’
It was a magnificent creature, long eared and long limbed, designed for listening out and loping off at extreme speed. And its amber eyes were beautiful, too.
‘And how are their numbers?’ I asked. ‘I know coursing in the Fens is an issue.’
‘They’re just about holding their own,’ Ash sighed. ‘And the farmers and local police are vigilant, which makes a big difference.’
Something else in the garden, which featured some beds of really wonderful looking roses, made the hare look up and, in a flash, it had gone.
‘I was hoping I might strike lucky,’ I said, in more than a whisper, now the beguiling creature had disappeared, ‘and I did.’
‘Indeed, you did.’ Ash laughed and I realised then how close we had inched towards each other. He realised it too and quickly sat back. ‘I haven’t seen her since I got back from Bakewell. You’re my lucky charm, Clemmie.’
I didn’t immediately know what to say to that.
‘How can you tell,’ I started to ask, then had to stop and start again because my voice was a bit squeaky. ‘How do you know that one’s a doe? Or is it a jill? You said her.’
‘Either works,’ he shrugged. ‘And I don’t for certain. It’s just a hunch.’
I shifted position and Pixie opened her eyes. I wasn’t sure if she had been asleep after all or shamming.
‘Would you like another coffee?’ Ash offered.
